Pneumatic suspension device for vehicles.



. J. WILLIAMSON. PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION IlLED MAILZB, 1912. 1,083,969, Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.;

I 3mm 1 11oz J. WILLIA'WUSON.

mnsuMATmmsPENswN 1mm m mucus.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 25, 1912. 1,983,969, Patented Jan. 13, 1M4.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'UNITED srnrns PATENT orrron'.

JOHN WILLIAMSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WARBEN Y,

HUFF, 0F BROOKLYN, NE'tV YORK.

PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan; 13, 1914,, I

Application filed March 28, 1912. Serial No. 686,319.

T 0 a? Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN WILLIAnSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Xew York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lneui'natic Suspension Devices for Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates Inore particularly .to means employed as a pneumatic spring ing and constructing the members that they may act upon pneumatic cushioning means located between the same to adapt shocks to be ditl'used or absorbed as the wheels meet ol'istrnctions and at the same time permit wheels with solid tires to be employed instead of the usual form of pneumatic tires.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and eilicient cushioning means which may be conveniently attached to or removed from vehicles as ordinarily constructed without practically any change whatever, and without any substantial change in the relative positions of the parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the character described which is simple in construction and which may be readily made and ass'nnbled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide simple and etlieient means which may be located and arranged in pairs for each axle, and each device is so constructed that in taking up shocks the pressure within the pneumatic m ans will reumin substantially the same and substantially the same etlect secured as in the ordinary pnelu'natio tire.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly descrilvul with reference to the accoi'npauying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the descrip tion. v t

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end View of a motor vehicle showing one form of my invention appliedthereto, one of the devices being partly broken away on one side of the vehicle for the purpose of better illustrating the same. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in elevation, of one of the cushioning devices. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line III-III of Fig. Fig. 4 IS a fragmentary inverted plan. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the compression member of the device; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a member or element for assisting in difiusingor absorbing shocks in a direction wherein the axle moves away from the body of the vehicle.

While I show the invention as applied more particularly to a vehicle in which the springs are arranged transversely of the body and over the axle, it will be understood that the invention may be applied to or modified insuch a way as to be applicable to various forms of motor vehicles, and while ordinarily four of such devices are used, two for each axle, a description of one and its operation will answer for the entire equipment of the car or vehicle.

The wheels 10 may be of any suitable. form, having solid or other tires, and which may be mounted upon the axle 11 in the usual or in any preferred manner. The vehicle body 12 is located as usual above the axles and extending transversely of the vehicle and at each end thereof is a spring 13 which is interposed between the axle and the vehicle body. These parts may be ofany preferred construction.

A box-like casing or member 1st is inverted so as to have its lower portion open, and along the vertieal'walls 15 thereof. and at opposite sides of th center are enlarged Portions or bosses 16. The bosses 16 are located opposite each other and secured to the bosses by bolts 17 or otherwise are substantially Vshapedyol(es or brackets 18. The brackets 18 form parts of the casing member 14; and are spaced apart, and in their lower ends is held a bolt 19 to which one bolt being provided with means for lubrieating the ends of the spring or otherwise constructed, as desired. The brackets 18 are offset to provide recesses 20 in which the projecting and substantially V-shaped parts 21 of a main compression member 22 are adapted to move vertically. This compres sion member 22 has two parts 21 adapted to be guided in the brackets 18 and said parts 21 are connected together by a bolt 22". The bolt 22 is held to an arm or lug 23 which projects outward from each enlarged part 24 of the vehicle axle 11. It will be apparent that in case of a relative movement between the vehicle body and the axle that the compression member 22, owing to its con nection with the lug or arm 93 and the connection of the ends of the spring 13 with the bolts 19 will cause a likewise relative movement of the members 22 and 11, the former being properly guided and adapted to move within said member 14, it being further apparent that the bolt 22 serves substantially as a pivoting means for the device in order that the said device may swing slightly or otherwise due to the lengthening and shortening of the spring during the up and down movement of the vehicle body.

The bolt 22 may have its ends reduced, as at 24*, Fig. 2, and guided in vertical slots 25 in the yokes or brackets 18, serving further to guide the compression member 22 in its movements relatively to the casing member 11. This member 22 is substantially rectangular in plan and is provided with upright bearing portions 26 at its corners. These bearing portions may be flush with the sides of said member or may extend slightly ieyond the same in order that said surfaces may be readily planed or milled to provide a proper sliding connection between the members 14 and 22, the latter being also provided with bearing surfaces for the parts 2(. The member 22 has a platelike base or part 27 providing a relatively large flat bearing surface 28 and down wardly curved end portions 2.). A cushioning element or means, as a rubber tube 30, is interposed between the member 14 and the member 22 and said tube has its ends passing through openings 31 in-the end walls 32 of the member l-l so as to be properly supported thereby, the said end walls being provided with bosses 33 on the outer surface thereof and semi-circular bosses 3+ on the inner surface thereof to assist in holding and supporting said tube. By providing. the plate-like bearing portion 27 on the compression member and having the ends 29 curved any movement to compress the tube or cushioning means 30 will increase the eX- tent of bearing 0] said member against the tube and consequently increase the resistance due to such increased bearing.

It is desirable that the pressure withinthe tube be increased as little as possible while absorbing or diffusing shocks and to obtain the result secured by the usual pneumatic tire. To accomplish this and to utilize as little rubber as possible and at the same time give an extent of com ression surface sufficient to properly absor the shocks, I arrange a reservoir 35 and connect the same to the ends of the cushionin means or tube 30. The reservoir or mem er 35 may be somewhat larger in diameter than the diameter of the tube 30 and in this case may have its ends reduced, as at 36, to'fit within the tube 30. The reservoir 35 may be of metal and may be arranged parallel with the axle or may be arranged to encircle the axle in the manner shown and the ends of said rescrvoir may be made to 'fit neatly within the ends of the tube 30 or held to the tube in any suitable way. As one means, a cli or clamping band 37 may be provided w ich when fastened about the ends of the tube will rigidly hold the same to the ends of the reservoir 35. This reservoir may be provided with a valve 38 by which air may be forced within said reservoir and into the compression tube 30 at any desired pressure. The reservoir 30 forms a substantially con tinuous and unrestricted connection with the compression tube so that the air from the compression tube may be forced into the reservoir and as quickly returned in order to quickly compensate for the movement of the member 22, and by having the reservoir serve as a relatively large container for the air, the latter may be forced from the part of the tube 30 that is being compressed by the member 22 into the reservoir without materially increasing the pressure and thus absorbing or taking up shocks in a manner unite similar to that secured by the ordinary pneumatic tire.

The construction and operation of the device thus far described will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be evident that as the vehicle moves along the roadway and in case the wheels should meet an obstruction, any movement of the wheels and axle will be, conveyed through the arm or lugs to the member 22 and this member 22 will move vertically within the box-like member 14: and compress the tube 30. As the tube is'compressed the air will be forced to either or both sides into the reservoir 35 and on there coil the air will again inflate the tube 30. The member "22 by reason of its construction will during the compression movement have its bearing surface against the tube increased thus increasing the resistance and serving better to take up or compensate for unusual shocks. The box-like member 14 is held yielllingly against movement by the sis A spring 13 and b reason of the connection with the spring t e devices may tilt or move with the bolt 22 as a pivot to allow for the lengthening or shortening of the spring during the up and down movement of the vehicle body. H

To absorb or diffuse shocks in a direction opposite to the movement of the compression member 22 various means mav he employed. As shown, I provide a device or element 39 on the inside of the member 14 and adjacent to each of the end walls 32 of the member 14. These elements 39 each have a plate-like portion 40 adapted to extend transversely of the tube 30 above the semi-circular boss portion 34 of the member 14, and extending downward from the platelike part 40 are the arms or parts 41 which are adapted to span the tube 30. These arms have fingers 42 projecting outward and angular therewith which are adapted to engage under the lower end of the curved parts 29 of the compression member 22. In this way any tendency of the axle to move away from the vehicle body in a direction opposite to the movement of the member 22 will cause the elements 39 to be carried by said member 22, thereby compressing the pneumatic tube 30 at the upper portion thereof.

It will be manifest from the foregoin that a simple and efficient device is provided which is particularly adapted for vehicles in which the springs extend transversely of the vehicle instead of lengthwise thereof; that said device rovides effective means for absorbing or ditliising the shocks; that said means may be applied to the vehicle with suliistantially no change whatever and without materially altering the relative position of the parts; and that said device is simple in construction and may be readily made and assembled.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. The combination of a vehicle body, an axle, wheels mounted on said axle, :1 lug projrcling from the axle, a spring, a device having two parts'movablc one within the other. one part being held to one of the lugs and the other part of each device held to oirc end of the spring, each device being supportcd to s ing transversely of the vehicle,

compressible cushioning moans located bclwccn the numbers, and a reservoir conwul t id cushioning means and extendii'g around the axle.

2. The combination of a box-like member having parts thereof adapted for attachnu-nt to a spring, a compression member movable within the box-like member and having a plate-like compression portion with curved ends adapted to vary the extent of bearing surface during its compression movement, means for guiding the members relatively with respect to each other, a comression tube supported in the box-like memer, and a substantially C-sha-ped metallic reservoir having an unrestricted connection with both ends of the tube.

3. The combination of a casing member adapted for attachment to a spring, a compression member movable within the casing member and having a bearing adapted to vary the extent of bearing surface during its compression movement, means for guiding the members relatively with respect'to each other, a short pneumatic tube supported in the casing member, and a reservoir connected at.both of its ends with the ends of the tube.

4. The combination of a casing member having parts thereof adapted for attachment to a spring, a compression member movable withinthe casing member, means for guiding the members relatively with respect to each other, a pneumatic tube sup ported in the casing member, and a metallic reservoir of a relatively larger diameter than the-tube and extending from one end of said tube to the other end thereof thereby forming an unrestricted connection between the two outer ends of the tube.

, 5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a box-like member having' spaced substantially V-shapcd yolccs,

part and vertical slots therein, a compres sion member having substantially V-shaped parts held to move in the offset parts of the yokes,.a bolt adapted for connection with the vehicle axle and having its ends reduced and guided in the slots, said bolt forming a pivot for the device to adapt the same to swing, a bolt connecting the V-shapcd parts of the first-mentioned member and serving as means for connection with the end of a spring, and a pneumatic tube arranged hetwcen the members, said compression memher being substantially rectangular and having bcaringportions at the ends thereof and with a platc-lilce compression portion having curved ends andadapted to compress the tube.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of'a casing member having parts 1')rojcctiug from the body thereof, said parts being provided with vertical slots therein, a compression member having parts held to move in the projecting parts ol the casing member, a bolt adapted for connection with the vehicle axle and having ils ends reduced and guided in the slots, said bolt forming a pivot for the device to adapt the same to swing, a bolt locatcd in the projecting parts of the casing member and servmg as means for connection \Vllll the end ol. a spring, and a tube located between the said yokes being providedwvith an offset bearing members, said compression member havin ortions at the ends thereof an with a-p ate-like com ression portion hav- Iigng curved ends and a apted to compress the 7. In a device of thecharacter described,

'the combination of a casing member, a substantially rectangular compression member movable in the casing member and having its body constructed to vary the extent of its bearing surface during the compression movement, a pneumatic tube adapted to be compressed by said compression member and a metallic reservoir extending from one end of said tube to the other end thereof, thereby forming an unrestricted connection between the two outer ends of the tube.

8. In a device of. the character described, the combination of a box-like member, a

compression member having a bearing with :and movable within said casing member, a

bolt held to the compression member and forming a pivot for the device to adaptthe same to swing, a bolt held to the casing member servm? as -means for connection with the end 0 a spring, a tube interposed between said members and a reservoir connected to both .ends of the tube and forming a continuation thereof, said compression member being substantially rectan having bearin portions at the en s thereof and with'a p ate-like compression portion having curved ends and adapted to compre the tube.

9. In a device of the character described,

lar and the combination of a box-like member having means for attachment to a spring, a compression' member movable within the box-like'member and having means to adapt the same to move with the vehicle axle, a pneumatic tube, a reservoir connected to said tube at each end and forming substan tially a continuation thereof with an unrestricted passage therefrom, and two elements having a plate-like portion and arms provided with means to engage the ends of the compression member and adapted to partake of the downward movement of the compression member to compress the tube at the upp r portion thereof.

T is specification signed and witnessed this'23rd day of March A. ,D. 1912.

JOHN WILLIAMSON.

' Witnesses: I

C. BARTELS,

ERNEST D. CoNm'r. 

